About LifeBlood

Vision

Multiple centres where men who have served their time can transition constructively back into the community. 

Mission

To enable men to return to society as disciples of Jesus Christ and initiate constructive change in their communities.

More specifically:

1. Provide safe, clean, supportive, transitional homes.

2. Establish constructive patterns of daily activity and collaboration.

3. Introduce clean food, balanced diets and regular exercise to minimise behavioural disorders.

4. Introduce educational content to break destructive patterns of behaviour and establish personal responsibility for future decisions.

5. Introduce job skills to break the cycle of welfare and prison recidivism.

6. Connect men to The Creator and His creation in culturally appropriate ways.

7. Be prepared (physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually) to create a new future.
   
   To act wisely and creatively to fulfill the above objectives. 

Values

We bring an evangelical-pentecostal mindset.  God is at the very heart of creation.  God came to earth as Jesus Christ to communicate His love and truth through discipleship.  He calls us to do the same.  

Freeing people from past patterns of destructive behaviour may involve deeper psychological and spiritual counselling.  We need to walk in the Spirit and be alert to the enemies’ lies.

Motto

Building Better Men

Building Better Families

Building Better Communities

Tactics

Pray, create, populate, operate, communicate, collaborate, duplicate.

LifeBlood Australia is a multi stage restoration program for men who have served their time in a correctional centre.  LifeBlood is affiliated with Fishers of Men in Brisbane and The Restoration Centre in North Richmond, NSW.  LifeBlood provides:

Residential Care

Safe transition housing where men can regroup and prepare for a new future.  Houses consist of 5-6 bedrooms with a common bathroom, kitchen and lounge facility.  Each home has a house leader that assists with catering, cleaning and program delivery.

Living Skills 

LifeBlood introduces practical living skills including meal planning, shopping, food preparation, cooking and cleaning that are essential for reintegration back into the community.  Course are being adapted and integrated into Eddie's 3 x 3' framework.

Life Skills 

LifeBlood introduces basic concepts to survive in a modern world.  Physical health, dental health, personal hygiene, physical fitness and taking time out to "sharpen the saw" (Steven Covey) up country (in the bush). Courses will also explore Who I Am, How I Think and How I Relate to the people around me.

Literacy Skills

LifeBlood is exploring a range of literacy courses in reading, writing and numeracy through existing online content and partner programs.

Digital Literacy

LifeBlood will provide computers in each home to develop digital literacy in Banking, MyGov, Employment searches, CV preparation and online job applications.

Job Skills 

LifeBlood provides a range of practical employment oriented modules to assess employment skills, prepare a CV, search for a job, write letters, apply on-line, interview preparation, clothing, shoes, good job habits, performance and promotions.

The significant shortage of skilled and unskilled workers in the agriculture sector enables LifeBLood to respond with a range of practical farm-worker education programs.  Residents have the opportunity to work in a range of live agricultural environments including cattle, dairy, bananas, avocados, sugar, peanuts, strawberries and blueberries.  Some roles will require occupational health and safety training.  Some will also develop proficiency in operating and maintaining farm machinery - essential for ongoing employment in the region.

Trades Assistant Training

Residents with prior experience in or a genuine passion for electrical, carpentry, plumbing, welding or engine maintenance careers will soon have the opportunity to learn and seek certification in these essential areas of need in FNQ.

Residents - Past and Present:

• Men who have served their time in a correctional centre.

Proposed Residents:

• Women who have served their time in a correctional centre.

• Juvenile offenders before, during and after time in a detention centre.

Volunteer Association Officers and SPAs

• Ambrose Nicholls - Client Engagement

• Ben Cooney 

• Ciana Hastie 

• Denis Symons - Elder and Prayer Support

• Eddie Pearce - Community Engagement Officer

• Harvey Rough - Acting Secretary and Acting Treasurer

• Kevin Bouttell - Elder and Prayer Support

• Steve Johnson - Fivestone Media

Advisory Board include:

• Specialist professionals that are consulted regarding LifeBlood policy and practice. The Board advises the Association Officers.

Philanthropists & Donors

• The generous people that fund our work.

Operational volunteer opportunities include (in alphabetical order):

• Accountants & bookkeeper

• Caterers and cooks

• Chaplain's and counsellors

• Dentists

• Doctors

• Farmers

• Gardeners

• House leaders

• Landscapers

• Machinery Operators

• Maintenance 

• MarComms

• Mentors / Disciplers

• Prayer cover

• Teachers

• Tradies - brickies, chippies, greenies, leakies, sparkies and tilers.

• Videographers

LifeBlood Education

LifeBlood is developing a range of practical education programs on a big range of topics.  The library is growing and will continue to grow for many years.

LifeBlood

LifeBlood Bible Basics

LifeBlood Break Every Chain

LifeBlood Life Skills

LifeBlood Living Skills

LifeBlood Literacy Skills

LifeBlood Job Skills

LifeBlood Farm Skills

LifeBlood Agriculture Basics

LifeBlood Animal Husbandry

LifeBlood Hospitality Industry Basics

LifeBlood ... 

Projects page

Aside from our main focus of re-creating lives inside our programs, our residents and volunteers also invest up to three afternoons per week in projects that will benefit the broader community.

Head to our projects page for a list of current projects.

You are most welcome to join in.

We're on a special journey here at LifeBlood.  Our mission is to give men, coming out of prison, time to rebuild their lives and go on to become:

Better men

Better fathers

Better members of the community.

That process takes time, money, counselling, education, nurture, discipline and even tough love.  It doesn't happen overnight.

If you would like to help us on that mission, then we welcome your input in any of the following roles:

An affiliate - volunteer / service provider.

A non-voting member.

A voting member.

An advisory board member in a specialist advisory portfolio.

Come along to our Saturday morning men's group at Destiny Church, Atherton at 9am

Or join our weekly Zoom meeting on Wednesday nights at 7pm -

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic* church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

*  catholic, with a lower case c, is a universal or broad church made up of many parts in many geographies.  It is a reference to a much larger group of believers, bigger than any one denomination.

I hereby declare ...

I believe God came to earth

as a man named Jesus,

to tell me He loves me,

to die on the cross for my sin,

and to restore a right relationship

between me and the Father.

I believe He rose from the dead on the third day,

and he ascended into heaven

so that His Holy Spirit can reside in my heart

and lead me into a deeper understanding

of the Father’s love.

I profess Jesus as my Lord and saviour.

I declare that I will love and serve Him

with all my heart,

with all my mind,

with all my soul and

with all my strength.

I commit again today to 

put on the full armour of God and be

the man that God intended me to be,

the father that God intended me to be,

the husband that God intended me to be,

and to live out His love in the wider community

before He comes again.

I believe in God the Father

I believe in God the Son

I believe in God the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in One.